MLS Cup Rematch - This Week in MLS

A rematch of the last two MLS Cup finals takes place Sunday night on national television (ESPN2, 11 p.m. ET) when the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy host the Houston Dynamo, the two-time runners up.

The perennial powers are tied for third overall on points (14) this season, although the Galaxy have played fewer games. The Dynamo won the only regular season meeting last year, 2-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The Galaxy are coming off their most impressive victory of the season, a 2-0 road triumph over Real Salt Lake, achieved without stars Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, who sat out with injuries. The Galaxy goals came from Mike Magee, who is now tied for the league lead in goals with six, and rookie Charlie Rugg.

The Dynamo also achieved a significant result this past weekend, rallying to tie the Colorado Rapids, 1-1, at BBVA Compass Stadium. Giles Barnes' impressive 66th minute goal helped the Dynamo extend their MLS home unbeaten streak to 30 games, an MLS record.

"The weather was just waiting for the first win, I think. There are no clouds for the first time this year. At the moment, it's very sunny in Seattle."

Seattle Sounders FC's goalkeeper Michael Gspurning on their first win of the season

"There's really no star player that's been brought in here just as a star. We wanted to try to gain individual success and notoriety through the team and only through the team...I think [the team is the star] is a universal principle for me. I honestly think it's the best way to do it in our league."

RSL head coach Jason Kreis on his coaching philosophy

"I have analyzed this [coaching] staff and myself for the last three weeks. I have put [the assistants] under a microscope, maybe even before I put the players, but I am done with that. It is on the players now. I am going to put them under a microscope. I am going to hold them to very, very high standards."

D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen on the team's disappointing start to the season

"It's worked out perfectly for me. You see the league starting to change today where they have youth club teams and homegrown players. The development is getting there. I think it's going to be the way to go for young players in America."

Philadelphia Union's Jack McInerney on his journey to playing in MLS

"Both teams were trying to play soccer. Both teams were attacking. Neither team was sitting back. Neither team was going to give an inch. We went toe to toe. We battled them and they battled us. These are the type of games this league needs."

"For me it was a matter of Toronto being after me for such a long time. They really showed a lot of interest, and when it comes from a player's perspective and we see that another team is really wanting to put you in the team and do everything possible, that's what motivates me to come here to this team."

Toronto FC's new Argentine designated player Matias Laba on why he signed with the team

Sweet Tweets

@Rafizzy07 - April 23

Very important to give back to our community! Glad we were able to lend a hand today. I had a blast at Annalee Elementary School! #LAGalaxy

&#8207;@Tim_Cahill - April 24

Credit to the @MLS @TaylorTwellman and everyone involved with the concussion video we watched today. Player awareness is key. #mls

@TealBunB - April 27

What do y'all think of our new Third Kit #PitchBlack ?? I absolutely love it. The #Swaggy is off the charts.

@MarkyDelgado - April 27

Made my home game debut today! Such a great feeling! The crowd was amazing!! @UnionUltras @BlackArmy1850 #ChivasUSA

&#8207;@mikeymomoney2 - April 28

Thk u so much for all the support. It was a dream nite. A game with 2 great clubs. Producing a game that shows what the #MLS has to offer

MLS Week 10 Previews

(Home team listed first; all times Eastern)

Thursday, May 2

Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution, 10:30 p.m. (UDN)

- The Timbers extended their undefeated streak to six games, a club record in MLS, with a thrilling 3-2 win at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday evening.

- Diego Valeri recorded his first two assists in MLS, setting up the first two Portland goals. He had two goals in six appearances coming into the SKC match.

- The Revolution got a goal from their own player for the first time since the March 2 season opener. Diego Fagundez and Lee Nguyen both scored in the 2-0 victory vs. Philadelphia on Saturday, which also ended a five-game winless streak.

- The teams have evenly split their three meetings all-time, each winning once with one draw. The Timbers won the only matchup at Jeld-Wen Field, a 3-0 victory on Sept. 16, 2011.

Saturday, May 4

Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 4 p.m. (NBCSN)

- Dominic Oduro scored his team-leading fourth goal and center back Josh Williams added his third of the season to lead the Crew to a 3-0 victory Saturday vs. D.C. United.

- Tim Cahill scored both Red Bulls goals in their 2-1 win at Toronto FC--his first goals since scoring his only previous league goal on Aug. 19, 2012 vs. Portland.

- The Red Bulls have won back-to-back games, their first consecutive victories since last Aug. 10-19, when they defeated Portland and Houston, a span of 19 MLS games.

- Columbus has not defeated New York since the 2010 season. The Red Bulls won both meetings a year ago--a 4-1 win at Crew Stadium and a 3-1 win at Red Bull Arena. They are 2-0-2 in the last four meetings.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact, 4 p.m.

- Marco Di Vaio scored his fourth goal in the last five games, sending the Impact on their way to a 2-0 win against Chicago on Saturday. Di Vaio has eight goals in his last 15 games dating back to last year.

- During Saturday's win, Impact supporters held a moment of silence and displayed banners protesting the team's 2-0 loss to Toronto FC in the first leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal. The return match is set for Wednesday at Stade Saputo.

- The Earthquakes are now winless in five games after last weekend's 2-2 draw at Chivas USA. This is their longest winless run since their 13-game streak from June 17-Aug. 27, 2011.

- Shea Salinas set both San Jose goals in the comeback draw vs. Chivas, his fourth two-assist game in six MLS seasons.

- The Impact won the only meeting between the clubs in Montréal's inaugural MLS season, a 3-1 victory Aug. 18 at Stade Saputo.

Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 4 p.m.

- Sounders FC return to action after a weekend off. Their last match, a 1-0 win at Colorado on April 20, was their first win of the season.

- Seattle Designated Player Obafemi Martins scored his first MLS goal in the victory over Colorado.

- The Union were shut out for the first time this season in their 2-0 defeat at New England over the weekend. Only FC Dallas and Portland have scored in every game this season.

- The Union are undefeated lifetime at PPL Park vs. Sounders FC. They have a win and a draw in two meetings, including a 3-1 triumph in the first game ever on the Chester waterfront.

Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m.

- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. A Camilo Sanvezzo penalty kick in the 84th minute canceled out a goal from RSL's Olmes García earlier in the second half, resulting in a 1-1 draw April 13, at BC Place.

- Whitecaps FC saw their winless streak extended to six games despite coming back for a late 2-2 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday at BC Place.

- 18-year-old Kekuta Manneh, the fourth overall selection in this year's SuperDraft, scored his first professional goal and added his first assist, bringing Whitecaps FC back from a two-goal deficit vs. FC Dallas.

- Whitecaps FC will have a home game midweek. They look to advance to the final of the Canadian Championship after defeating FC Edmonton 3-2 in the first leg of their semifinal series.

- Real will conclude a three-game homestand with the visit from Vancouver. RSL lost for the first time at home this season in a 2-0 defeat by the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Colorado Rapids vs. Toronto FC, 9 p.m.

- Toronto FC have a four-game undefeated streak vs. Colorado. They have not lost in the series since April 18, 2010. All three Rapids victories against TFC have come at home; Colorado is 0-6-0 lifetime at BMO Field.

- TFC will head to Colorado after a midweek trip to Montréal, where they bring a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their Canadian Championship semifinal against the Impact.

- For a third consecutive game, Toronto FC saw the deciding goal scored in the 89th minute or later. The New York Red Bulls claimed a late 2-1 win Saturday at BMO Field. Previously, Philadelphia and Houston scored late equalizers against Toronto. TFC is now winless in their last 11 league home games.

- Rapids defender Drew Moor kept his streak alive after scoring in the 1-1 draw Sunday at Houston. He has now scored in eight consecutive seasons. Moor has only failed to score a goal in his 2005 rookie season.

Sunday, May 5

Sporting Kansas City vs. Chivas USA, 5 p.m. (UniMas)

- Sporting have a four-game undefeated streak vs. Chivas USA, having not lost in the series since July 10, 2010. Sporting have won their last three trips to The Home Depot Center to play Chivas.

- Chivas USA put an end to a two-game losing streak and two-game shutout streak in their 2-2 draw with San Jose at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.

- Tristan Bowen scored his first goal since the 2010 season in the Chivas draw. Bowen netted twice that season for the LA Galaxy, where he broke in as a Homegrown Player in 2009.

- Chance Myers, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2008 SuperDraft, scored the first two goals of his MLS career in Sporting's 3-2 home loss to Portland on Saturday evening.

LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)

- It's a rematch of the last two MLS Cups--the Galaxy won 1-0 in MLS Cup 2011, and 3-1 in MLS Cup 2012. Both were played at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy have defeated the Dynamo in their last six meetings at The Home Depot Center in all competitions. Houston's last win against the Galaxy in Carson came in 2007, a 3-1 triumph.

- On a night when Charlie Rugg scored his first professional goal, Mike Magee also netted to take over the lead in the MLS Golden Boot standings with his sixth goal. The Galaxy won 2-0 at Real Salt Lake.

- Brian Rowe made his full professional debut in goal for the Galaxy, making seven saves in the win at RSL. Rowe had made just one first-team appearance with the club, playing 45 minutes in a friendly vs. Tottenham Hotspur last season.

- The Dynamo set an MLS record with their 30th consecutive league match without a loss in their 1-1 draw Sunday with the Colorado Rapids at BBVA Compass Stadium.

- The Dynamo will be without playmaker Brad Davis for the MLS Cup Final rematch, after he was sent off late in the draw with Colorado.